While traveling, people in Asia used to ask me if the different states in the US were different culturally. Indians especially were fascinated by this as indigenous cultures were still quite prevalent, and thus state differences could often be seen in the language, clothing, and wares produced. I’d tell them, no, not really. I mean, we were different but not in the same way that other country’s states were. I tried to tell them that our differences were just more subtle.
Then, last week while driving home I realized that our state-to-state differences aren’t necessarily more subtle. They’re just more developed (as in signs of a developed society). We may not weave our own cloths, but skirt length? That’s definitely a cultural norm that has acceptability varying from state to state as Ms. Kyla Ebberts so clearly displayed that what’s acceptable in Southern Cali definitely won’t fly elsewhere (yes, pun intended).
And what caused this little observance? While driving back into a middle-class, mostly white neighborhood here in St. Louis I changed lanes. Being the Missouri-raised girl I was, I checked both mirrors, put on my blinker, and switched lanes. Still, the 20-something white dude in that lane decided I was clearly a muck of a driver and rode up on my tail and flipped me off. I was appalled. I had not been flipped off while driving in five years. And you can bet your boots that when I was in LA on the 405 last month I definitely cut across four lanes of traffic…with no honking or middle fingers to show for it. Yes. In Cali, drivers don’t flip each other off (partly caused due to the highway shootings). In Missouri, you’ll get the finger for no good reason (to which you can always respond as I did…slowing and pumping my brakes in front of the guy…then speeding up…then braking).
But that is just one of our state-to-state differences…some others I’ve noticed?
Bars:
In Cali or New York, bars aren’t just about getting smashed or hooking up. It’s as much about making new (career) connections or a little conversation as it is getting digits. In Missouri, screw the digits…everyone just wants a lay with the hottest guy/girl they can find.
Looks:
OK…I have to relate this to a day back in SoCal when the roomies and I were talking about Nick Lachey. Great-looking guy, no? Well, we all agreed, but then I added that he’s cute…but you know people just think he’s so hot because he’s famous. “I mean he looks like a guy I could have gone to high school with,” I say. My Michigan roommate responds with, “I’ve seen your pictures…and yeah maybe a guy YOU could’ve gone to school with, but…” So what am I saying? In general, Missouri guys are pretty darn hot to the rest of the states. Missourians, in particular I think are just more attractive peeps. Seriously, in my four years of school, I traveled to many other Big 12 universities, and I have to say that both the guys and girls at MU are far more attractive than any other college I’ve been to. This is both good and bad. Great for eye candy. But terrible for a girls’ self-esteem. None of my out-of-state friends know as many girls from college that had eating disorders as I do. Nobody else had to listen to girls retching their 12-course diner dinner in the dorm toilet or had their sorority meetings address girls puking in the shower (again).
Recycling:
OK. It happens in MO…but recycling containers here are like 1/4 of the size they are in Cali. Clearly it’s not happening like it should be.
Food:
T-Rav. ‘Nuff said.
Yeah…the more I think about things, the easier it is to come up with ways in which Missouri is unique or at least different from the other states here in our little ol’ country. We may not have our own Missouri religion, but yeah, each state is different from the next.
